Animation expert hails Ireland's world leading potential

Ireland is in a prime position to become a world leader in the development and delivery of digital animation over the next decade, it was claimed today.

Philip Flynn, chief executive of the Digital Hub Development Agency, said domestic and international companies would be able to avail of a highly skilled workforce with experience of producing digital animations since primary school.

At the launch of the premiere of the Liberties Claymation Festival in the Digital Hub in Dublin’s city centre, Mr Flynn said he was keen to attract more animation companies to set up.

The festival, which is running over three days, will feature over 30 animation films produced and directed by children aged between eight and 16-years from schools based in the Liberties.

Mr Flynn said: “The excellent storylines, imaginative sets and the skills demonstrated by local children in producing these films provide good prospects for the growth of The Digital Hub’s animation sector.

“The Liberties Claymation Festival is a demonstration of The Digital Hub’s very wide remit. While we are currently in the process of tying down the development plans for the remainder of the Digital Hub site, local children are benefiting from digital media learning through schools, summer projects and homework clubs.”

Mr Flynn said the programmes provided the children with insights into possible careers as well as new ways to take in information.

“In fact, many of the programmes that we offer through the Diageo Liberties Learning Initiative are designed to improve literacy levels among children with poor educational attainment,” he said.

The Digital Hub was set in the historic Liberties area of Dublin as part of an urban regeneration project for the area.

The Government backed initiative was established to create a centre of innovation focused on digital content and technology enterprises.

The animations are all based on a storyline developed by the children, and they incorporate clay-characters in custom developed sets.

Digital media is used to bring the stories to life – with the films developed over the school year through the Diageo Liberties Learning Initiative.

Mr Flynn said subject to funding and sponsorship the Digital Hub was keen to roll out its digital media education programmes to other schools outside of the Liberties area.

He said: “This Claymation festival is a demonstration of what can be achieved through digital media learning. Over the past four years, the Diageo Liberties Learning initiative has made such a positive impact on the lives of local children and we feel that their peers in other parts of the city and country could benefit too.”